Admission into College: Academics, Luck, or Something Else?

For high school seniors, April is a time of excitement and nervousness. Not only is graduation getting closer, it is also when many find out if they’ve been accepted into the college or university of their choice. Many students study hard to score high on the SATs and participate in after school activities hoping it will give them an advantage over other applicants.

This edition of That’s History examines some of the factors involved in the college admissions process throughout history and how it has evolved into its current state. The Historical Society’s collections include more than 21 million items. Please visit the library at 1300 Locust Street or search our collections online.